Summary
An established upscale dining destination in downtown Toronto is seeking an experienced Private Dining Sales & Operations Manager to lead private events while supporting the day-to-day operation of a high-volume, polished restaurant environment. This is a hybrid sales and operations role for someone who understands that a successful private event starts well before the first guest arrives. You will manage inquiries, build relationships with corporate and social clients, convert opportunities into confirmed bookings, coordinate every detail, and work closely with culinary and restaurant leadership to ensure events are executed seamlessly.
Alongside private dining sales, you will be an active member of the restaurant management team, maintaining a visible presence on the floor, supporting front-of-house teams, coaching employees, resolving guest concerns, and helping uphold exceptional standards of service. The successful candidate will bring a minimum of three years of private dining management experience within a fine dining or upscale restaurant environment. You are commercially minded, highly organized, confident with clients, and equally comfortable selling an event, building a function plan, and stepping onto the floor to ensure it is delivered flawlessly.
Description
- Manage the private dining sales process from initial inquiry through contracting, planning, execution, and post-event follow-up.
- Develop new private dining, corporate event, social event, banquet, and catering business while building repeat relationships with existing clients.
- Actively manage the sales pipeline, including inquiries, prospects, tentative bookings, confirmed events, and future business opportunities.
- Respond promptly and professionally to private dining inquiries by phone and email, providing menus, pricing, availability, event options, and recommendations.
- Build relationships with corporate clients, event planners, local businesses, hotel partners, concierge teams, and community contacts to generate new business.
- Work closely with senior sales leadership to identify opportunities, develop accounts, and increase private dining revenue.
- Conduct site visits and client meetings, presenting event spaces and creating tailored private dining experiences.
- Coordinate menus, beverage selections, room layouts, guest counts, timelines, special requests, AV requirements, and event logistics.
- Prepare and maintain event contracts, function details, client correspondence, and event documentation.
- Ensure restaurant management, culinary teams, and service teams have complete and accurate information for every event.
- Lead or support private dining events on-site, greeting hosts and ensuring service, timing, food quality, and guest experience meet expectations.
- Follow up with clients after events to gather feedback, strengthen relationships, and encourage repeat business.
- Maintain accurate guest and account information within event booking and reservation systems.
- Produce event, sales, pipeline, and booking reports as required.
- Support the General Manager with daily restaurant operations and front-of-house leadership.
- Maintain a strong presence on the restaurant floor during service, supporting hosts, servers, bartenders, and other front-of-house team members.
- Coach, train, and develop employees while reinforcing service standards, accountability, and performance expectations.
- Assist with interviewing, onboarding, scheduling, and ongoing employee development.
- Ensure established standards for food, beverage, hospitality, cleanliness, sanitation, safety, and restaurant presentation are consistently maintained.
- Resolve guest concerns professionally and proactively.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen guest loyalty, increase restaurant sales, and improve the overall dining and event experience.
- Support opening, closing, and manager-on-duty responsibilities as required.
- Collaborate closely with culinary and restaurant leadership to ensure strong communication and consistent execution across regular service and private events.
Requirements
- Minimum three years of private dining management experience within a fine dining or upscale restaurant environment.
- Strong background in private dining sales, event planning, banquet sales, restaurant events, or hospitality event management.
- Demonstrated ability to convert inquiries into confirmed business and build repeat client relationships.
- Previous restaurant management or front-of-house leadership experience.
- Strong understanding of elevated food, beverage, and service standards.
- Experience coordinating corporate events, celebrations, private parties, dinners, receptions, and other hospitality events.
- Excellent client relationship, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple events, deadlines, guest requests, and operational priorities simultaneously.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to translate event agreements into clear operational plans.
- Confident leadership presence with the ability to coach and support restaurant teams.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, guest-facing environment where priorities can change quickly.
- Experience using event booking, CRM, reservation, or restaurant management systems.
- Tripleseat experience is considered an asset.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and general business technology.
- Degree or diploma in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Event Management, or a related discipline is considered an asset.
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays based on restaurant and event schedules.
Corporate Culture
- Base salary of approximately $70,000.
- Commission and performance-based bonus opportunities.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits.
- RRSP program with company matching.
- Paid vacation and time off.
- Dining and event discounts.
- Professional development and career advancement opportunities.
- The opportunity to take ownership of a meaningful private dining business within an established upscale restaurant.
- A highly visible role combining relationship building, sales, events, guest experience, and restaurant operations.
- The opportunity to build long-term corporate and social client relationships while creating memorable private dining experiences in one of Toronto's most competitive hospitality markets.